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State House: District 29: Democrat: Ephraim Cruz

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.02.2008
Name: Ephraim Cruz
Office seeking: State House, District 29
Party registration: Democratic
Age (DOB): 35 (Nov. 27, 1972)
Occupation/employer: Student, Pima Community College
Family: [Candidate did not answer this question]
Religion: Protestant
Income: Student
Residence: Tucson
Education: Criminal justice (Mercy College), political science (Pima Community College)
Offices held/run for: n/a
Civic activities/organizations: Students for Barack Obama, Pima Community College; Arizonans for Obama, Tucson; Obama for America
Why are you running? I am running to become your next state representative from District 29 because I am convinced that our community can no longer allow the Arizona Legislature to de-fund public education, public transportation and health-care access in Southern Arizona. The truth is that better schools, better roads and better access to medicine only emerge when a community's elected representatives work to fully fund these basic human rights. I have the integrity to ensure that when elected, I will fight tirelessly for increased funding for Southern Arizona.
The biggest issue facing my constituents (or potential constituents) is: Anemic funding for basic social services like public education, public transportation and health-care access.
Favorite local hangout: Reid Park
NPR or FOX? NPR. FOX News remains an entertainment channel.
How long have you lived in Arizona? Roughly 10 years, since 1997
What kind of vehicle do you drive? What kind of mileage does it get? 2000 Dodge Neon , 30 mpg.
If I could have dinner with any living person, I would choose: Senator Barack Obama, so we could discuss his magnetic ability to get people outside the political process to care about politics.
If I had my own reality show, it would be titled: "No Legislator Left Behind," where state lawmakers attend the public schools they have shortchanged for the past 30 years. Let's see if Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton can pass the AIMS test, shall we?
First job: At age 14, I was a full-time dishwasher.
Taxes: In general, do you see tax cuts as a good way to grow the economy during the economic downturn, or would you prefer to either raise them or see them stay the same to avoid cutting government programs?
The Phoenix Republican fetish for cutting taxes drains state resources best used to provide top-notch schools, state-of-the-art hospitals, and environmentally friendly jobs for Arizona's citizens. A vote for Ephraim Cruz provides more state money to public education, the only sure way to attract high-tech corporate businesses to Southern Arizona.
Education: What kinds of policy would you support to improve the standing of Arizona schools in comparison to the rest of the nation?
The Arizona Legislature should increase per capita spending on public education immediately to attract and retain quality teachers for Arizona's schools. To prepare Southern Arizona students for today's global marketplace, we should increase personal income and corporate taxes, and use the increased revenue to increase Arizona's abysmal per capita spending on education. That way, we'll reduce class sizes, attract and retain quality teachers, and offer the vocational programs that allow consistent employment among our youth population.
Transportation: Do you support or oppose the proposed 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for new roads and public transit?
I support Gov. Napolitano's proposed 1-cent sales tax increase, because the roughly $3.8 billion Southern Arizona stands to gain from this proposal can not be found elsewhere, and green transportation infrastructure improvements like a speed-rail between Tucson and Phoenix deserve our support.
Economy: The state's budget shortfall next year may be in the neighborhood of $2 billion. How would you balance the state's financial obligations with the constitutional requirement the Arizona have a balanced budget?
I am willing to increase state taxes as necessary to prevent future budget difficulties. Generally, the state's triage solutions to the prolonged fiscal irresponsibility created and maintained by Maricopa Republicans — robbing state funds committed by voters to balance the budget for example — must be eliminated.
Health care: Should the state expand government services to help those who lack health care? What other possible help could there be for Arizonans in the face of rising health-care costs, particular for those for are self-employed or run small businesses?
I believe the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), our state's premiere program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income parents and children, receives too little money. Families classified as "working poor" who earn a living in our society yet receive too little income to afford catastrophic health-care coverage for themselves or their children should be covered by our state's health-care system. More money for AHCCCS, a program that focuses on preventive care, ensures those families can find the help they need, when they need it, and that no Arizonan falls through the gaps in our health-care system.
Marriage: Do you believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman? If the answer is yes, do you support defining it that way in the Arizona Constitution?
Arizona Revised Statute 25-101-C states that "Marriage between persons of the same sex is void and prohibited." Personally, I believe that two unrelated consenting adults should be allowed under our state law to marry, same or different sex, but anyone trying to force the Arizona Constitution to reflect a perspective already enshrined in state law is simply wasting everyone's time.
Immigration: Several proposals have passed on the state level to deal with illegal immigration. In general, what should the state's role be when it comes to controlling immigration and mitigating its effects?
The Arizona Legislature commits jurisdictional overreach and legislative trespassing when it passes immigration law. State laws, like the proposed guest-worker program will only exacerbate the problem of illegal immigrant overstays — the highest source of illegal immigration this country faces. Further, the proposed guest-worker program exploits low-wage, unskilled, foreign-born labor while it ignores unemployed and underemployed Arizona citizens. Immigration is a federal matter, and Arizona must demand that the federal government compose a comprehensive, nationwide immigration policy with all deliberate speed.
Environment: "The environment" follows "immigration" as the top concern of Arizonans in most public opinion polls. What policies, if any, can be passed at the state level to address these widespread concerns?
Southern Arizona faces a serious water shortage, and I support state mandates that require all new developments to install systems that employ recycled water or harvested rainwater for outdoor water usage. I also favor state tax incentives and/or rebates to encourage private families to purchase rainwater cisterns for existing residential property that can collect hundreds of gallons of rainwater during the monsoon season that can be used for homes and gardens.
Civility: What is one issue where you see the potential to work with members of the opposite political party on legislation? How would you build support?
I will fight to ensure that all public school personnel (teachers and support staff) gain due process rights before termination, to defend themselves through a fair and timely process. Due process rights provide basic worker protection in most other industries, and Arizona's educators deserve no less. Republicans, like all voters, value integrity, transparency and accountability, and I'm sure that my discussions with Republican legislators to promote these due process rights will display our shared values on this issue.
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